The District of Hudson's Hope, B.C., is looking to build a new community hall with a library and playground, after its old
facility was permanently closed due to health and safety concerns.
The new hall is projected to cost more than $33 million.
Hudson's Hope is located approximately 85 kilometres southwest of Fort St. John in northeast B.C.
Its old hall was built in the 1960s, and remediation was too costly, says Mayor Travous Quibell.
This forced the town — with a population of about 1,000 — to research its next steps.
District Coun. Tashana Winnicky led a planning committee for a new hall.
"We want everybody from children to seniors, all having a space where they can come together and make memories," she said.
Winnicky says a new hall would also serve as a warming shelter during cold snaps, and act as an emergency operations centre during wildfires.
It would be built on the same site, and contain an indoor playground, commercial kitchen, library and meeting rooms.
Quibell says the old hall was well-used, which highlights the need for a replacement.
"We have had countless weddings, funerals, community celebrations," he said.
"Many, many lives have passed through this hall over the last 60 years, and we want to keep that spirit going, and we want to expand on it."
It's a financially challenging project for the small community. The district is looking at grants and partnerships, but will likely have to borrow much of what it needs. A decision on borrowing money would be put to community members through a vote, Quibell said. "We have very limited options in terms of raising capital for a project like this. So borrowing is definitely on the table."
The total estimated cost of the new hall is $33.2 million, although the district says that's a preliminary estimate and it's looking for ways to reduce costs.
"That $33 million, it feels large and it feels intense, especially for a community of this size," Winnicky said.
Of that, $18.4 million would cover the cost of construction, $6.2 million for escalation and contingency costs, $2.4 million for furnishings and equipment, plus another $6.2 million for project management, permits and fees.
The question of whether to borrow funds for a new hall will be put to the community in a vote next year. The result will determine whether the replacement project goes ahead.
-Tom Summer CBC Fort St. John
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